Machine for wire binding boxes or the like



Jan. 6, 1953 T. R. SYKES I MACHINE FOR WIRE BINDING BOXES OR THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 22, 1948 [rm en for Thomas R S/fies w Jan. 6, 1953 T. R. SYKES MACHINE FOR WIRE BINDING BOXES OR THE'LIKE Filed June 22, 1948 5 SheetsSheet 2 I nxntor Thomas R 1(e$ @Qw Jan. 6, 1953 T. R. S YKES 2,624,270

MACHINE FOR WIRE BINDING BOXES OR THE LIKE Filed June 22, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 m2 m: 1 x 2 Irnntor ThomdS P. S 'K'es g; I M

Jan. 6, 1953 T. R. SYKES MACHINE FOR WIRE BINDING BOXES OR THE LIKE Filed June 22, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 w M n W m R 6. 4 M 7 m Z 4 Z 5 4 Z M W QJ l- 2 M 74 w 5 5 |-I|-!. z 2 rfl... I I 6 .w m 1 6 9 w w 1 m My w M 6 0 1-O| 8 6 w 1 5 5 w Hw 4 w 3 1 5 Jr s J U m 7 4! z k 2 O m 3 1 5 M 4 w z Jan. 6, 1953 T. R. SYKES MACHINE FOR WIRE BINDING soxss OR THE LIKE Filed June 22, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Jan. 6, 1953 MACHINE FOR WIRE BINDING noxns on THE LIKE Thomas R. Sykes, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, as-

signor to The Toronto Star Limited, Toronto,

Ontario, Canada Application June 22, 1948, Serial No. 34,528

12 Claims.

, 1' This invention relates to improvements in baling machines particularly of the type disclosed in United States Patent 2,331,818 and copending United States application Serial Number 673,375, filed May 31, 1946, now Patent No. 2,581,776, and the principal object of the invention is to provide an improved and simplified machine which will effectively and tightly wirebind boxes or other non-compressible material as well as material which can be compressed.

A further important object is to provide an improved wire-welding mechanism which will materially increase the strength of the weld to provide a stronger and safer joint between the ends of the binding wire.

A still further important object is to provide.

has been folded around the box or bundle and until the completion of the weld joining the wire ends.

Another important feature is to provide an improved arrangement of welder jaws which have an elongated stroke in the wire path to eliminate missed welds and which provide a weld wherein the axes of the wire sections either side of the welds are in alignment to provide axial loading, giving a materially stronger and safer joint.

A further important feature consists in providing means to automatically bend the top overlapping wire end downwardly from an exposed position upon completion of the weld to prevent catching the hands or clothing of a person handling the bound box or bundle.

A further important feature consists in providing improved and simplified folder arm arrangement to fold the wire around the bundles or box and'providing improved folding fingers pivotally mounted in the folder arm and co-operating with a simple ledge on the ram to turn the wire over the. top of the bundle.

A further feature consists in providing means for automatically moving one of the folderarm assemblies against the box or bundle to position same for the tie.

A still further feature consists in providing a folder arm assembly which will eliminate the catching of an overhanging part of a compressible bundle by the folder arm as it rises to fold the wire about the bundle.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the machine.

Figure 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of theupper portion of the machine showing the folder arms, the ram and the bundle aligning side-shoving ram.

Figure 2a: is an enlarged perspective view of the left hand folder assembly and bed plate showing details of the folding fingers and wire guide groove arrangement for feeding wire across the bed plate.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of the pressure air system of the machine.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical system of the machine.

Figure 6 is an enlarged plan section on line 6-6 of Figure 2 of the ram showing details of the wire gripper.

Figure 7 is an enlarged front elevational View of the upper portion of one of the folder arms showing details of the folder fingers.

Figure 8 is a side elevational view of the upper portion of the folder arm showing further details of the folding fingers.

Figure 9 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the ram taken on the line 99 of Figure 6 and showing the arrangement of the welder electrodes and the wire bender.

Figure 10 is a vertical section through the ram taken on the line Ill-l0 of Figure 6 and enlarged to show details of the wire grippers.

Figure 11 is a side elevational view of the ma chine and frame showing the manner in which the movable folder arm guide is guided into the ram during the aligning of the bundles or boxes.

Figure 12 is a front elevational view of the welder electrodes.

The machines shown and described in the & aforesaid patents comprise primarily the arrangement of co-operating mechanisms whereby a pressure ram operates to compress the material of the bundle upon a fixed bed plate and a length of wire measured in accordance with the movement of the ram is fed beneath the bundle and is subsequently bent upwardly along the sides of the bundle and then bent inwardly over the top thereof with the ends overlapping and finally the overlapped ends are welded together. The expansion of the compressible bundles upon release of the ram results in the tensioning of the binding wire, ensuring that the bundle will be tightly and securely tied.

This reliance on the expansion of compressible material following release by the ram to tension the binding wire renders the machine unsatisfactory for binding non-compressible material, such as boxes or the like or stacks of noncompressible and non-resilient articles 01' material.

One of the major aspects of the present invention is therefore to provide a machine in which the binding wire will be folded about the bundle or box tie and will be properly tensioned prior to the weld to enable'such non-compressible material or boxes to be tightly and securely wirebound.

Another important aspect is to incorporate in the machine a novel arrangement of welding electrodes to increase the strength of the weld, providing a stronger and safer joint and to eliminate missed welds.

Other improvements and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description.

Referring to the drawings, the machine illustrated comprises a pair of uprights I and 2 connected at the top by a cross bar 3, and intermediate of their height by a horizontal bed plate 4. An air cylinder is centrally mounted on the cross bar 3 and the piston 6 extending therefrom supports the ram 1 which is formed with vertical ribs 8 slidably engaging in grooves 9 in the uprights.

A horizontal bar I0, shown in Figures 2 and 3, is mounted on the front edge of the bed'plate 4 and is formed with a groove II in its upper edge into which the binder Wire is guided to pass under a box or bundle placed uponthe bed plate. The right-hand end of the groove II is widened to slidably support a grooved bar I2 mounted on a slidable bracket plate l3 which slides between the bar In and asimilar bar I4 secured to the bed plate.

Sliding vertically between the upright I and a vertical guide I5 is a folder arm I6 provided with a dove-tailed rib I I engaging in a dovetailed groove I8 formed in the guide I5.

Extending forwardly from rib I! of the folder arm I6 adjacent the top thereof is a lug I9 which extends through a vertical slot 26 in the guide.

A cylinder 2| is attached to the outer face of the guide I5 and its piston 22 is adapted to engage the lug I9 to efiect the vertical movement of the folder arm I6.

Secured to the slidable bracket I 3 is a vertical guide 23 similar to the guide l5, being formed with a dove-tailed groove 24 in its inner face and a vertical slot 25 communicating with the groove 24,.

Sliding between the upright 2 and the guide 23 is a folder arm 26 similar to the folder arm 4 I6, being provided with a dove-tailed rib 21 engaging in the guide groove 24.

A lug 28, extending outwardly from the folder arm 26 through the vertical guide slot 25, is adapted to be engaged by the piston 29 of an air cylinder 36 secured to the guide 23.

The vertical movement of the folder arm 26 is thus accomplished by the upward movement of the piston 29, engaging the lug 28, forcing same upwardly in the slot 25 to carry the folder arm 26 upwardly. Thus the folder arms I6 and 26 are actuated in a similar manner by the pistons 22 and 29 respectively.

In the case of the folder arm I6, its movement is entirely vertical and its guide I5 is secured to the upright I above and below the limits of movement of the folder arm.

' Since the guide 23 for the folder arm 26 is secured to the guide bracket plate I3 the whole folder arm assembly, including the guide and folder arm, ismovable laterally to accommodate the various widths of boxes or bundles B placed on the bed plate.

Secured to the right-hand guide 23 is a piston rod 3I moving in the air cylinder 32 secured to a lateral extending frame 33 carrying a'wire uiding grooved bar 33. This piston effects the lateral movement of the folder arm assembly and slide bracket I3.

Secured to the front face of the ram 7 is a vertical plate 34 formed with an outwardly ex.- tending flange 35 along its lower edge.

The upper end of the guide 23 is guided between a boss 36 on the ram I and aboss 31 formed on the plate 34, as illustrated in Figures 11 and 9.

Referring to the details of the folder arm 26 shown in Figures '7 and 8 (which details are the same for folder arm I6) it will be seen thatthe upper end of the folder arm is provided with a vertical slot 38. Projecting upwardly from the slotted folder arm end adjacent the outer edge are a pair of extensions 39 and 40 with the in ner extension 39 adjacent the ram 7 (Figure 8) being relatively shorter, and the outer extension 40 outwardly of the ram being formed with a laterally turned upper end 4| formed with a wire guide groove 42 in' its upper surface and a bevelled stop surface43 at its inner end. (Simi lar details of the folder arm I6 are clearly shown in Figure 2a.)

Pivotally secured in the slot 38 at the inner edge of the folder arm is a curved finger 44, the angled fre end of which is provided with a wire guide groove 45.

Pivotally mounted between the extensions 39 and 46 is a second finger 46 which engages the finger 44, being provided with a curved surface 41 to conform to the'curved surface of the finger The inner angled end of the finger 46 is provided with a wire guide groove 48, while the upper edge of the finger is provided with a guide groove 49 in alignment with the roove 42 in the extension end 4|.

The inner edge of the folder arm is also provided with a guide groove 56 and this groove intersects the outer edge of the lower end of the finger 44 which is provided with an aligning groove 5!.

As shown, particularly in Figure 6 and in Figures 7 and 8, the ram 7 is provided with a ledge 52 which extends across the front of the uprights I and 2 to operate the fin ers 44 and 46.

As shown in Figure 7 in solid line, the normal position of the fingers is inwardly of the inner edge of the folder arm with the upper finger 46 abutting stop surface 43. It will thus be seen that, as the folder arms move upwardly to fold wire fed beneath a box or bundle placed on the bed plate around the sides of the box, the wire guide grooves 50, 5I, 45 and 48 are in alignment to receive and guide the wire as it is folded upwardly.

When the folder arm reaches the ram ledge 52 the upper surface of the finger 46 projecting inwardly of the lateral extension 4| of the folder arm will be engaged by the ledge and because of theangled position of this finger 46 it will be swung downwardly, forcing the finger 44 outwardly to bend the wire over the top of the bundle or box.

To provide the desired bending of the wire it is essential that the pivot of the finger 44 be located as closely as possible to the box or bundle, and since its upper end must be in alignment with the inner edge of the folder arm the second finger 46 is required to effect the turning movement of the finger 44. Without the second finger 4B the reaction of the ram ledge would act directly through the pivot point without effecting a turning moment.

The dotted line showing of the fingers in Figure 7 illustrates the position which they assume when the folder arm has reached the limit of its upward movement.

Since it is desirable that one end of the wire being folded about the box be consistently under the opposite end of the wire, the fingers of the left-hand folder arm I6 are slightly longer than the fingers of the right-hand folder arm 25, so that the left-hand wire is folded first to lie beneath the right-hand wire.

The actual details of the wire feed mechanism and the mechanism for measuring and cutting the wires to the correct length for the bundle or box being bound are fully described and shown in detail in the aforesaid Patent No. 2,581,776 and are shown principally in diagrammatic form in the instant drawings as the specific operation of these parts forms no part of this invention.

Essentially the wire feed mechanism includes the motor 53 which drives the vertical spindle 54 through a suitable clutch 55 operated by the solenoid 56, as shown in Figure 1 and diagramm-atically in Figure 5. j

Mounted on the spindle 54 is a roller 51 which co-operates with a similar roller, not shown, to feedthe wire W towards the machine. The wire after being driven between the rollers and through a suitable straightening device 58 passes across the frame 33 in a suitable guide slot and is fed beneath a box or bundle placed on the bed plate being guided by the grooved bar I 2 and the groove I I in the bar I 0.

The control of the feed of the wire is effected by an arrangement of movable switches, as hereinafter described.

The wire feed preferably incorporates a safety device which will operate to stop the feed in the event the wire should jump out of its groove, run out or jam. In the instant showing the safety device comprises an arm 59 adapted to engage a longitudinally concaved'threaded portion -60 of the spindle 54, the centre of curvature of which is the pivot of the arm 58.

The arm 59 has its outer end normally engaging the threads of the spindle 54 so that an over trave1 of the wire beyond the size of the maximum box or bundle .willmove the arm upwardlyto make the micro-switch 6|, which is arranged to effect the stopping of the wire feed, as will be seen on reference to Figure 5.

The pivot of the arm 59 is in a member 59' movable laterally by the operation of the solenoid 62 to movethe arm out of engagement with the spindle threads. This solenoid normally operates before the arm 59 is raised suffioi-ently to make the micro-switch BI and allows the arm to fall, but in the event that the wire is fed beyond the specified limits the arm will operate the switch BI to stop the feed.

The wire cutting and measuring device includes a plurality of movable switches which are illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 5 and shown in Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1, it will be seen that slidably mounted on the frame 33 is a suitable wirecut-ting and marking device 63 which is caused to travel on the frame by means of an endless cable 54. This cable is connected to a lug 65 extending from the ram I and extends upwardly, passing over a pulley 66. Adjustably mounted at the top of the ram frame and returning downwardly it passes over a pulley 61, then extends horizontally beneath the bed plate -4 around the pulley 68 mountedon the back of the bracket I3 so that the transverse movement of the bracket to accommodate different widths of boxes or bundles will alter the position of the cable correspondingly. From the pulley E8 the cable returns horizontally and extends beneath the frame 33 passing around the pulley 69 which is held under tension by a spring I0 and from thence it returns horizontally and passes over a pulley II mounted on the frame and then returns upwardly to the lug 65.

The sliding carriage of the wire cutter 63 is provided with an extension I2 which is secured to the cable. The spring Ill holds the cable taut and the adjustable pulley 66 enables the adjustm-ent of the cutter to provide the correct length of overlap of the wire when folded around the box.

The cable 64 and the slid-able cutter operated thereby are operated directly by the movement of the ram 1 as it moves into engagement with the box, so that the length of the wire on the righthand side is determined, the cutter being operated as hereinafter described.

A grooved bar I3 aligns horizontally with the bar or frame 33 and extends from the left upright I of the frame and has a slidable carriage I4 mounted thereon carrying a control switch I5.

An endless cable I6 is connected to a lug "H extending from the left side of the ram I and extends over a pulley I8 mounted at the top of the ram frame and returns downwardly under a pulley I9 from whence it returns horizontally beneath the bar I3 and around an end pulley 80.

The cable after passing around the pulley returns and passes under a pulley 8| and returns upwardly to the ram lug I1.

The carriage of the control switch I5 is secured to the cable I5 between the pulleys I9 and 80.

The movement of the ram thus'causes the switch carriage I4 to move corresponding to the size of the bundle on the bed plate to provide the correct length of wire to the left of the bed plate to fold up and around the bundle or box and overlap with the wire folded from the right side of the bed plate. v

To effect the control of the wire feed to provide the correct wire length as described the conapanese 7 trolswitch J :is arranged in the path of the wire feed across the bar13 andthis switch is a single pole double-throw switch illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 5 and operated by engagement of the wire being fed along the bar 52.

Arranged either side of the bed plate to project'into the path of the wire being fed across the bed plate are additional feed control'switches' 32 and 83 respectively, the switch 23 :being arranged atthe left of the bed plate and the switch -82 at the right.

The contacts of the switches 82 and 83 are normally closed to ground as illustrated in Figure 5 but are operated by the passage of wire across the bed plate and engaging their contacts to interrupt the ground connection to lie-energize the feed controlling solenoid 5% as will hereinafter be described.

With the arrangement of switches shown the wire normally feeds to the switch 83 and stops upon'opening switch '83. in preparation for the binding of a box or other material placed on the bed plate.

The control switch 82 is arranged to prevent wire feed past this switch when the folder arms are raised since the alternate path from the centre contact of the switch 82 is through the safety switches 84 and 85 interrupted by the rise of the folderarms.

Defined between the rain i and its front plate 34 is a vertical slot 86 which opens to the bottom of the ram and extends transversely the full width of the ram, and it is into this slot that the wire is turned by the folding fingers A l of the folder arms.

The wire tensioning mechanism to tighten the wire about the box or other non-compressible material'or object is particularly shown in Figure 6 and 10. This tightening mechanism includes two similar gripper devices which are first actuated to engage the wire and to draw same about thebox or object to be tied. Each gripper is constructed as follows.

Slidably arranged in a groove 8'! adjacent the centre of the face of the ram 1 at the lower edge thereof is a block 88 engaging on roller bearings 89 arranged in the inner face of the groove 87. This block 88 .has an angled or bevelled outer face which extends outwardly towards the centre of the ram and is provided with a dovetailed guideway 941 on which a gripper or jaw member 9| slides. The block 38 is also provided with ribs 92 which engage in a groove 93 in the upper edge of the ram groove 3'! and in the groove 94 formed in the retaining plate 95.

An extension 95 of the gripper or jaw member 9| extends inwardly through a slot 91 in the ram to project into the path of the piston $8 of an air cylinder at. The portion of the gripper 9| engaging the dovetailed guideway 80 of the block 88 has an angled inner face opposite to the angle of theouterblock face so that the outer toothed face I00 of the gripper is parallel with th face of the ram.

. Acting to urge the block 38 to the outward end of its stroke is a relatively stiff spring NH, while acting to separate the block 88 and the gripper extension 98 is a spring sea which is weaker'than the spring H3 i.

Slidably mounted in the inner face of the ram plate 34 opposite the gripper 9! is a :co-acting gripper m3 guided in a dovetailed groove W ldefined in the plate 34 and by bottom plate I05. This gripper member N13 is arranged to slide on the .roller'bearings .lilfi and is held normally at 8 the outward end of its stroke by the spring ll) 1.

-With the wire folded over by th folder fin'gers into the slopes and between the grippers or jaw 31 and 163 the outward movement of the piston -'98 first'forces the gripper 9] along its slide on the block '88 which is held against the action of the spring 1'02 by the stiffer spring -I i) I The movement of the "gripper continues'and due to the angled sliding faces of the block "88 and the gripper it moves outwardly to'engagethe wire between its toothed face 1'00 and the corresponding toothed face tilt-ofgrippehl'fiB. Since further outwardmovement of the innergripper-is resisted 'upon gripping the wire the continued movement of the piston 98 effects movement of the block-88 and the grippers together'to tighten the wire, forcing same inwardly toward "the centre of theram.

To prevent undue squeezing of the wire it"will be noted that the gripper extension 96 will engage the block 88 after limited movement'o'fthe gripper and damage to the wire willbe prevented.

An identical arrangement of grippers is provided on the opposite side of the centre of the ram to tighten the wire fedinby the folderfingers of the opposite folder arm, like reference numerals indicating like parts.

Upon tensioning of the wire with the -mechanism described the overlapped ends of the wire are ready to be welded'together. The welding mechanism is shown particularly. in Figures '9 and 12. As shown, the lower 'weldingvelectrode I89 is hinged to the body of the ram adjacent'the centre and extends through a vertical slot I I0 in the ram face, the slot also extending intotheiram plate 34 as shown in'Figure 6. Thus the'lower welding electrode extends across 86 at the base of the ram and underlies the overlapped wires.

This electrode is connected through a suitable high capacity flexible cable I H to the welding transformer I I? mounted on the ram.

The top welder electrode E E3 is in the form of an angled arm pivoted at one'end at il at the rear of the ram man-insulated bushing Hi. This top electrode H3 is arranged to have its free end enter the vertical slot H?) relatively high up to catch wires and force them "down on the lower electrode. This top electrode is connected through the high capacity flexible cable M5 to the welding'transformer.

To prevent the electrodes from shorting to the frame, insulated oninsula'ting strips H5 are secured to the ram and extend along the wall of the slot iii; and right angularly along the wall.

of the slot lit. The lower electrode, like the upper electrode of course, is pivoted in a suitableinsulated bushing let. The arrangement of the insulating strips I it is clearly :shown in Figure 6.

Referring to Figure 12, which shows the wire contacting ends of the electrode, it will be seen that the free end ll? of thelower elcectrode is provided with a bevelled upper surface E 13 which is slig tly convex. The free end H9 of the upper electrode, which is of a width somewhat greater than the width of the lower electrode, is provided with a somewhat curved wire contacting surface 25 having a central bevelled portion corresponding to the bevelled porticn of the under or lower electrode. Thus when the wires are pressed by the electrodes and welded it will be seen on examination of Figure 12 that the axes of the wire portions W each side of the electrodes are in a straight line and "the welding upon completion of the .tie is subjected to an 9 l axial load only tending to shear the welded surfaces. This arrangement of providing axial load by forming the weld with bevelled electrodes, as shown, greatly increases the weld strength up to nearly the full strength of the wire.

The movement of the upper electrode is effected by the piston I2I of the cylinder I22 and upon completion of the folding and tensioning of the wire this piston is operated as hereinafter described to engage the upper electrode and force same about its pivot II4 downwardly to catch the wires overlapped in the slot 86 and force same down against the lower electrode.

It will be seen from Figure 9 that the upper electrode operates against a suitable spring I23 which serves to return the electrode clear of the slot I66 when released by the piston I2 I.

To effect the energization of the transformer relay I38 a suitable switch mechanism I24 normally opened by the plunger I25 is supported from the ram adjacent the upper electrode and its plunger is normally held depressed to hold the switch open by the upper electrode in its inoperative position. Thus movement of the piston I2I in forcing the upper electrode into welding position effects the energization of the welding transformer through the switch I24, as will be explained in conjunction with the circuit diagram Figure 5.

To eliminate the hazard of injury from the end of the upper wire of the weld means are provided to force this wire down against the box or object from an exposed position; This means includes the cylinder I26 supported on the ram as shown in Figure 9 and provided with piston I21 which operates through a hole I23 in the ram.

This cylinder I26 and piston I2I are obliquely arranged and the piston is adapted to move down at such an angle that it knocks the end of the top of the upper wire laterally and downwardly below the weld and against the box or bundle.

This action is timed to occur while the wires are still firmly held by the welding electrode.

Following completion of the weld, the length of which may be regulated through any suitable timing device, for instance a bellows arrangement I28 herein shown in Figures 4 and 5, the machine is operated to return to a normal position. The manner in which this return is effected will be described in connection with the air and electrical circuit diagrams, Figures 4 and respectively.

Referring to Figure 5, it will be seen that the motor 53 for effecting the wire feed is continually energized but the wire feed mechanism as actuated by the clutch 55 is operated only when relay I29 is energized. Unless connected to ground by the hand feed switch I29 the energization of this relay depends on the switches I5, 82 and 83 arranged in the wire path and safety switches 34 and 85 operated by movement of the folder arms and safety switch 6! operated by over-travel of the arms 56 the switches herein illustrated diagrammatically being of the type disclosed in the said United States application No. 673,375, now Patent No. 2,581,775.

The wire normally" feeds to switch 82 opening its connection with ground and connecting it with switch 83. If switch 83 is closed and safety switches 84 and 85 are closed with the folder arms in their lowered position, the wire continues to feed to switch 83 to open the switch opening the circuit. to ground. Relay I29 is then 10 deenergized, de-energizing the clutch solenoid 56 stopping wire feed.

When the main switch I33 is operated to initiate the machine cycle, the main air valve I3 I, Figure 4, is also operated to move the ram I downwardly, and when the ram strikes a box or bundle or object placed on the bed plate the switch I32 is closed through the plunger I33 to connect the relay I29 to ground through switch 15 which has been positioned by the movement of the ram through the endless cable I6, as previously explained, to stop the wire at the proper length.

As will be hereinafter explained in connection With Figure 4, the right folder arm has been moved in by the piston 3!. to align the box in the machine against the left upright I prior to the movement of the ram, and the wirecutting mechanism 63 is positioned in accordance with the movement of the right folder arm assembly and the ram as previously described to provide the correct length of wire to the rightof the machine.

Upon the wire feeding to the switch I5 after the ram has been lowered and switch I32 'operated, switch I5 is operated to open the wire feed solenoid circuit and close the relay I 34;v Relay I34 then effects the energization of the solenoid I35 to allow air fromthe high pressure system to enter the folder arm piston ram cylinders 2| and 30 respectively and to operate the wire cutting mechanism.

The folder arms ar then actuated to fold the wire about the bundle upon moving upwardlyv at the same time breaking the safety switches 84 and 85 in the wire feed circuit to prevent wire from being fed past the switch 82 while the tie is being effected.

Upon the fingers 46 striking th ram ledge 52 the wires are turned over the top of the box, as explained, entering the vertical slot 86 in the ram.

The upward movement of th right folder. arm effects, upon engagement with the piston I36, the movement of the piston in its cylinder I31 to apply high pressure air to the Wire gripping cylinders and welding control cylinders to effect the operation of the weld.

Upon movement of the upper electrodes a effected through the piston I2I of the cylinder I22, as explained, switch I24 is operated to energize relay I38 to apply line voltage across the welding transformer II2 and to apply the requisite low voltage across the welding electrodes.

Since the path from the overlapped wires to the gripper jaws is a relatively long high resistance path, essentially all the current flows between the top and bottom electrodes directly through the overlapped wires.

Upon completion of the weld, switch I39 is operated by the bellows I28 in which pressure air is building up during the weld and this switch effects the energization of a relay I40 to release the main switch I36 which may be either a mechanical or an electrical latch-in switch. The completion of the switch I 39 also effects the energization of the relay 62 to reset the arm 59 of the wire feed safety device.

It will be understood that the main switch I36 may be manually operated through a suitable lever which effects simultaneously the opera.- tion of the main air valve I3! or may be electrically operated through the entry of a box or object into the machine by means of a feeder.

-aecae'zo -11 such-,as described. into-pending application Serial No. 19,744 filed April 8,1948.

JIo obtain a proper "understanding of the sequence ofltheloperationof themachine reference is held to the air circuit diagram, Figure 4.

".Upon operation of the main air valve 13 Moms- .sureair from a supply pipe MI is directed to lthe cylinderil, forcingout the piston 3!,which in turnemoves. the. right-hand folder. arm. assem- Ibly'inwardly-to force the box or object against the left-hand upright I.

While air .enters the cylinder .32 directly through the pipe I42 the build up of pressurein .this .cylinder .foroes up the spring-operated piston -i43 of the:.cylinder M4 to uncover-a port .l45..communicating with the upper endof the ram-.cylinder 5. "Thus following completion of the-inward movement-of the right-hand folder arm assembly theramisroperated to descend and contact the'hox or object.

'Byrpassing the .cylinder [4% is a .suitable check valve 14$,permittingzflow only in a direc- "tion'from the upper end of the cylinder .5.

"Upon engagement of the ram with a box or "ibundleonbed plate 4,, :switch i'32-is operated to .ground' relay I29 to energize wire feed and upon thenwire being 'fedt'hrough to switch '15 and operating same the wire feed mechanism is deenergized and the relay l34'contro1ling solenoid I 35' is operated to cause solenoid I35 (Figure i) to open' the upper end of cylinder M5 connected tothe air pressure supply through a restriction valve 146' which permits limited flow there- 'through. The release 'of pressure 'from'the upper 'end of-the cylinder 145' allows the springoperated piston M! to rise, allowing pressure air to 'flowtothe' bottom of the left-hand folder arm cylinder-2! to operate folder arm 16 and thence through a cylinder I48 upon building up sufficient {pressure to operate the spring-loaded -piston lqe tothe' right-hand folder arm cylinder 30 tooperate folder armZE and thence to the wire-cutting mechanism B3.

The folder'arms move upwardly and their tflngers turn the-wire over "the top of thebundle :and into the slot 86. As explained, the fingers ofwtheleft-harfd'folder arm are'slightly longer :than the right-handsothat' the right-hand wire overlaps.

Upon the right folder-arm striking theplunger rlfifi pfthe icylinder i3] air is permitted to'flow .directly to the cylinders :99 of the.gripping mechanisms :arrangeid neither side of "the centre of the .ram.

Upon-the: outward movement of the cylinder pistons 9,8:the inner gripper'or'jaw members 9! areflrstmoved longitudinally of'their blocks 88 and due to the angled surfaces thereof are forced outwardlyto grip the-wires in conjunction with their co-operating-gripping members I03. During this .intervalthe blocks are maintained against movement by thestiif springs I G l Upon further movementof-the pistons 98 the blocks '.8B,together with the-gripping members, move inwardly towards the centre of the ram, tension-ing thewire about the box or object.

'When sufiicient pressure has built-up in the cylinders 39 to tension the wire properlya piston T50 is operated against its restraining spring in cylinder [5! to uncover aport-ISZ, allowingair to flow to the cylinder 12 2 to effect the operation of the upper weldingelectrode and the energization' of the welding relay through switch I24.

When pressure haslbuilt up on-the weld the piston 1-53 is operated against its restraining spring incylincler. ['54. to uncover. port l:55,,per-

mitting pressureairitoiflow tocylinder I26, f0rcwith the low pressure. Thus release'of the main air valve acts to 'release' the wiregrippersand allow them to return toa normal position under action of thesprings I b l,- release the welding electrode operated bythe "piston'l2-l allow the folder arm cylinders to exhaust to atmosphere to return' the folder arms to their-lowered position,

torielevate the ram; the lower end of the cylinder .of which isconnectedtothehigh pressure source andtoreturn the right-hand folderarm assembly to an outward position to receive the "next box.

It will be noted that with the arrangement .of

--welding"jaws provided a strong and: secure' weld will result, eliminating breaking of'the wire or weld under load.

Thus it will be seen that, with a machine such 'as described, boxes or non-compressible material :or-objects may be qiuickly bundled and "tied with-avwire that will-be securely tensione'd around the perimeter thereof.

With a machine such as describeddtis only required to placethebundle upon the-bed plate and depress or effect .the depression of 'the ma'in switch and main air valve to initiate the machine cycle. Upon initiation of 1 the cycle the :entire operation-10f: measuring, Jcutting, wrapping, sten- ;sioning andwelding the wire and the' release- 0f =the bundle and thereturn of th'e pa'rts'to normal is automatically effected.

It will be understood that'my binding'machine will be equally effective for the'bindingof :compressible materials or bundles :and" the improved arrangementof folder arms and folding fingers and welding arrangement will provide improved performance whether .on compressible or noncompressible materials.

In the case of compressible'materials'it may be understood that although they/ire tensioning arrangementneed not necessarily be required, it can be utilized to advantage to provide tighter andmore compact bundles.

-In-practice the machine 'ha'sproven to be extremely efficient and reliable and has almost entirely 'eliminatedmissed or defective welds so that no repeat operations are required on the objects or materials being bound.

What I claim as my invention'is:

1.'-A wire binding machine comprising the combination with a'b'ed plate, a reciprocating ram arrangedabove the bed plate, and means for feeding a wire beneath an object placed on the bed plate and folding the-wire about the object, of two sets of gripper jaws mounted in said ram in aligned position, the jaws of each set being normally horizontally spaced apart to receive the folded wire therebetween'while permitting unobstructed vertical movement in folding therebetween and being relatively movable horizontally into and out of wire-gripping relation, said jaw sets being relatively movable longitudinally in opposite "directions upon gripping :sa'i-d wire to 13 tension same aboutsaid object, means to eife'ct the movement of said jaws to grip and tension said wire, and means to weld the ends of the tensioned wire together.

2. In a machine for wire binding non-compressible objects or the like, the combination with a bed plate, a reciprocating ram arranged above the bed plate, means for feeding wire beneath an object placed on the bed plate, and means for folding the wire about the object and into a slot in said ram to overlap the wire ends while said ram is in engagement with said object, of a pair of gripping devices'mounted in spaced relation in the walls of said ram slot and each including gripper members mounted on opposite sides of said slot and permitting unobstructed vertical wire movement in said slot in folding about the object and relatively movable transversely of said slot to first grip said Wire and movable longitudinally of said slot to then tension said wire about said object. means to effect the movement of said gripping devices transversely and longitudinally of said slot, and means to weld the overlapped ends of the tensioned wire together.

3. In a wire binding machine, the combination with a bed plate, a reciprocating ram arranged above the bed plate, means for feeding a wire beneath an obj ect or the like placed on the bed plate 7 and means for folding the wire about the object to overlap the wire ends while said ram is in engagement with said object, of a pair of welding electrodes carried by said ram and arranged to engage and grip the overlap wire ends, said electrodes having angled transverse wire-engaging surfaces whereby the wire either side of said electrodes is in substantially axial alignment upon completion of the weld.

4. A machine as claimed in claim 3 in which means are provided to bend the upper of the overlapped wire ends downwardly adjacent the object being bound.

5. A machine as claimed in claim 3 in which an air cylinder is obliquely arranged in said ram, a piston operating in said cylinder and arranged to strike the end of the upper of said overlapped wires engaged by said welding electrodes to force same laterally and downwardly from an exposed position.

6. A wire binding machine comprising the combination with a bed plate and an air-operated ram of a reciprocating press, means for placing a length of wire beneath an object placed on the bed plate, adjustable air-operated folder means to fold the Wire around the object to overlap the wire ends, and means to weld the overlapped ends of the wire when folded around the object, of airoperated means to adjust said adjustable folder means to align the object on said bed plate, a compressed air supply, a main air valve operable to direct compressed air to operate said folder-adjusting means, means to direct compressed air to said ram upon operation of said bundle-adjusting means, means operable upon movement of said ram into engagement with the object to direct compressed air to said folder means to fold the wire about the bundle, and air-operated means operated upon completion of the folding of the wire to actuate said welding means.

'7. A machine as claimed in claim 6 in which air-operated wire tensioning means are arranged in said ram, means to direct compressed air to said tensioning means following the folding of the wire around the object, and means to direct compressed air to said air-operated welding actuating means uponcompletion of the tensioning of said wire.

8. A machine as claimed in claim 6 in which air-operated means are provided to turn down the exposed end of the upper overlapped wire end, and means to direct compressed air to said lastmentioned means following the actuation of said welding means.

9. In a machine for wire binding non-compressible objects, the combination with a bed plate, a reciprocating ram arranged above the bed plate, means for feeding wire beneath an object placed on the bed plate and means for folding the wire about the object and into a slot in the ram to overlap the wire ends to be welded, of a pair of gripper devices to grip and tension wire folded into said slot, said gripper devices each including a block slidably mounted in one wall of said ram slot to move longitudinally of said slot and having an angled outer face, a gripper member having an angled inner face mounted to slide on the angled face of said block longitudinally of said slot to move outwardly and inwardly of the slot wall, a second gripper member slidably mounted in the wall of said slot to slide longitudinally thereof opposite the aforesaid gripper member and adapted to co-operate therewith, means restraining movement of said block until the gripper member slidably mounted thereon has been moved outwardly into cooperative wire-gripping relation with said second gripper member, and means to operate said block and gripper member slidable thereon longitudinally of said slot.

10. In a wire binding machine, the combination with a bed plate, a reciprocating ram arranged above the bed plate, means for feeding wire beneath an object placed on the bed plate, and means for folding the wire about the object and into a slot in the ram to overlap the wire ends to be welded, of a pair of gripper devices to grip and tension wire folded into said slot, said gripper devices each comprising a block slidably mounted in a guideway in one wall of said ram slot to move longitudinally of said slot, said block having an angled outer face formed with a longitudinal guideway extending longitudinally of said slot, a slidable gripper jaw having an angled inner face engaging the guideway of said angled block face and having a lateral projection extending beyond the outer end of said block, a spring urging said block along said slot outwardly from the centre of said ram, a spring relatively weaker than the aforesaid spring arranged between said block and said lateral projection, and a second gripper jaw slidably mounted in a guideway in the opposite wall of said slot opposite the aforesaid gripper jaw, and gripper actuating means engaging said lateral projection to first move said angled gripper jaw on said block to move same into adjacent cooperative gripper relation with said second gripper jaw and to then effect movement of said block and gripper jaws as a unit to tension the wire.

11. In a wire binding machine, the combina tion with the ram and bed plate of a reciprocating press and means for feeding a measured length of wire under a bundle or the like placed on said bed plate, of means adjustable in accordance with the size of the bundle for folding the Wire around the bundle and fluid pressure operated means operatively connected with said adjustable folder means and operable prior to the operation of said ram and folding of said wire to adjust said folding means to engage and align the bundle on the bed plate, said adjustable folder means comprising a pair of vertical relatively movable guide assemblies. arranged adjacent the:

sides of the bed plate, a pair of folder arms yer ti'cally slidable in said guide assemblies, fluid pressure operated means for operating said foldor arms tofol'dt'n'e wire up the sides ofthe bundle,- a curved folding finger pivoted adjacent the inner edge of each folder arm adjacent the upper end thereof and normally retracted to assume a substantially vertical position, a second normally obliquely extending finger abutting and projecting-abovethe aforesaid finger and pivoted to the folderarm remote from the inner edge thereof, and ledge means on said ram to engage'the upper obliquely extending fingers of said folder arms to'force same downwardly and inwardly to actuate said curved folding fingers to turn the: wire over the-top of the bundle.

12; A machine as claimed in claim 11 in which theinner faces of theupper ends: of said'foldin fingers are provided with wire receiving' rooves REFERENCES CITED The following references are of 'record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,486,897 Huguenin Mar. 18-,- 1924 2,331,818

Wallace Oct. 12, 1943 

